Week 1: Homeostasis and its importance

Question 1

What are negative feedback systems?

Answer 1

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers a response to counteract and reverse that intial change.

This is the most common type of feedback system in the body.

Question 2

What is a postitive feeback system?

Answer 2

A regulatory mechanism in which a change in a variable leads to responses that amplify the intial change.

The main examples of this are childbirth and blood clotting.

Question 3

What is homeostasis?

Answer 3

The process by which an organism maintains a stable internal environment, including factors like temperature, pH, and nutrient levels, to ensure optimal functioning.

Question 4

What is extracellular fluid?

Answer 4

All body fluids that surrounds all body cells, including interstitial fluid (fluid between cells), and blood plasma.

Question 5

What is the process followed by the 3 key components of the body’s feedback system?

Answer 5

• Receptors monitor the body’s condition for changes from a controlled condition.
• The control centre analyses receptor information, and determines the required response if the condition is deviated.
• The effector (an organ or tissue within the body that can have it’s function altered) is directed by the control centre to produce a response that returns the condition back to the controlled condition.

Question 6

Which two systems of the body are involved in almost all homeostatic feeback loops in the body?

Answer 6

• Nervous system - rapid responses through nerves to detect and counteract changes.
• Endocrine system - secretes hormones into the bloodstream for slower responses.